SandScript 2020

FICTION
Harvard Business School. But all was lost
in translation when it came to affection,
accolades or positive reinforcement for
the one person who could have benefited
most: Ryan. His only daughter. His only
child. William was determined to rear her
unspoiled, tough enough to endure any
of the cruel hardships that she would
inevitably encounter in life. He also, just
simply, lacked the sensitivity that a young
girl needed. Nurturing wasn’t part of his
skill set. And because of this, Ryan was
destined to spend the rest of her life trying
to gain the smallest sip of approval from her
father.
He walked out of the shop, his
confidence aglow from the overflow of his
charmed life.
His biceps protruded from the tight
sleeves of his Boston Marathon t-shirt, his
quads bulged beneath his corduroy OP
shorts. He held open the door for a young
woman and smiled at her. His wide grin said,
High School Valedictorian. Summa Cum
Laude. Purple Heart in Viet Nam. The young
woman batted her eyelashes and smiled
back at the stocky redhead. She giggled as
he blew her a kiss and then pretended to
trip over a curb going back to the car.
Whatever William wanted, he got. In
whatever William attempted, he succeeded.
And whatever William told Ryan, she
believed.
And from the truest, warmest, most
vulnerable recesses of her six-year-old
mind, she believed that if her father loved
her, then she, too, was significant, worthy,
lovable.
He hopped into the car without
glancing at his child in the passenger seat.
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